Aldi today announced the return of its ‘Grow with Aldi’ supplier development programme for 2019, which will see it invest more than €500,000 in supporting up-and-coming artisan Irish food and drink companies.
Aldi is now seeking applications for year two of the programme from small to medium-sized food and drink producers across Ireland to develop market-ready products for sale nationwide.
Aldi will pick up to 70 of the products entered to be listed as part of the Grow with Aldi Specialbuys event in June 2019.
A final five of the products will then be chosen to become a core range listing in all of Aldi’s 137 stores nationwide.
Last Year's Entries
Last year, 230 suppliers applied to take part in Grow with Aldi, the German retailer said in a statement.
38 suppliers and 71 products were then shortlisted and went on sale in August 2018 as part of the Grow with Aldi Specialbuys event.
“38 producers had their products listed nationally, our customers got to try some of the most innovative products Ireland has to offer and Aldi forged new links with fantastic suppliers around the country,” John Curtin, Aldi Ireland Group Buying Director, said.
Five Winning Suppliers
In 2018, five products were then chosen to become part of Aldi’s core product range nationwide.
The five winning suppliers and products are: Ballyhoura Apple Farm, Limerick – Pure Raw Apple Cider Vinegar; Gran Grans, Galway – Lemon Marmalade; Rebel Chilli, Cork – Red Rebel Chilli sauce; Velo Coffee, Cork – Whole Bean & Ground Coffee and Lullaby Milk, Cork – Lullaby Milk.
"The impact of the programme lives beyond the five suppliers. Grow with Aldi also presented Aldi with the opportunity to work with other applicants from 2018," Curtin explained.
Food and drink companies in Ireland with ambitions to take their product from concept to shelf and see it stocked in Aldi’s Irish stores can apply here.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
